Arm leg or neck watertight container, for housing valuables and small articles, safely fastenable to human members or to the neck of dogs and other domestic animals

ABSTRACT

A watertight container ( 10 ), comprising a rigid watertight box ( 32, 132, 232, 332 ) connected by means of a wrist strap ( 12 ) to limbs or other members of the human or animal body, allows to safely carry, contiguously to the arm, the leg, or the neck, small size articles, such as either wounded or folded banknotes, valuables, pills, jewels, etc. also in situations of water immersion such as bathing or swimming, excessive sweating, steal or robbery dangers, engaging sporting activities, etc, thanks to the watersealing feature of the box ( 32, 132, 232, 332 ), provided with suitable gaskets seals ( 62, 66 ), to the anatomical suitability and the strength of the wrist strap ( 12 ) housing the box ( 32, 132, 232, 332 ).

The present invention concerns an article comprised of a watertightcontainer to be fastened by means of a strap to limbs or other membersor, like a collar, to the neck of domestic animals. The container isprovided with a watertight closure and allows to give the article ashape of particularly flattened ellipsoidal cross-section, or the like,in order to result of little encumbrance in the use. The container isnormally inserted in a suitable case or holder of the either belt orwrist strap enclosing it, allowing the carriage thereof, as it isstrongly fastened to one of the members or to the neck of animals.

Such an invention is suited to solve carriage problems in outstandinglywet environments, such as swimming pools, sea and lake areas, or thelike, of a plurality of small articles, and particularly money, whichcan need also in case of water immersion or bathing. Of course, such anarticle can be used also for carrying valuables or precious small sizearticles also in dry condition because the strong fastening and thelocation to be chosen on the body assure against bag-snatchings,pocket-pickings and robberies. It is suited also for the carriage ofsmall precious articles, such as jewels or the like, as well as ofnecessary articles, such as pills to be swallowed at preset timesindependentely from the environment or location.

It is well known that for carrying banknotes or small articles in wetenvironments there are in trade some containers comprised of small tubesclosed by a screw cap, abutting against a rubber O-ring gasket, andprovided with a cord or string to be carried by the neck. Saidcontainers have a decidedly modest safety and comfort rate because,being the tube cap screwed, it allows a nor perfectely even pressureagainst the O-ring gasket, as, owing to the angle of the screw thread,the cap does not evenly press the O-ring, so that the O-ring is morepressed in an area than in an opposed area and, consequentely, to have asufficient seal on the whole gasket it is necessary to overpress an areathereof. Further, should by distraction the screw cap be not completelyclosed, the hermetic seal is lost, making useless the operation of thecontainer. Moreover, a neckbearing does not prevent either pulling orslipping of the string, with consequent high danger of loss or theft,and not even allows to have the article and its contents undercontinuous watch. At last, the screw cap of the tubes imposes acylindrical shape not very suitable to reduce the size with respect tothe capacity of the container and does not allow any shape adjusting ofthe container itself.

Some documented attempts to solve, at least partially, the problemsfaced by the present invention are well known.

The document EP-A-0,432,635 relates to a wrist purse, which would beexpected to be watertight, comprised of an oblong cup shaped containerintegrally molded with a wrist strap, the cup shaped container having acover, connected as a book to the container itself and provided with arounded protruding, edge engaged in a complementary edge of thecontainer itself to provide an interference fitting, also trying to bewatertight. The obtained results are how, are rather doubtful because,in spite to an attempt of carefully molding the cover and the container,there are some tolerances never allowing a complete seal. Further, thefact of using the same flexible material for molding the wrist strap,the container and the cover, does not make free the container and coverassembly from accidental strains, due to stresses, resulting in sealloss and poor practical utility of the article.

For example, the document CH-A-682,040 discloses an assembly of a wriststrap and a cup shaped container, provided with a sealed cover andparticularly suited for housing watches, whose cover is fastened, bymeans of a suitable member, to a loop of the wrist strap. This approachhas the main drawback due to the fact that the container provides thetasks of article both housing and hermetically sealing which, beingprovided by a not evenly pressed gasket, owing to a too short hingebetween the cover and the container, cannot provide a perfect liquidseal. Further, as the duty to ensure the cover closure is provided by abracket member fastened to a loop of the wrist strap, it happens thatany accidental movement of the wrist strap can jeopardize the closuresafety or efficiency of the bracket member itself. At last the circularcup shape of the container does not make it suitable for articlesdifferent from watches.

In addition to the above mentioned drawbacks, there is also the factthat the sealed cover is outside faced, so that the only force assuringits closure is due to the bracket member, which is poorly dependent fromany engagement of the wrist strap with a limb of the user. It seems thatthe inventor, possibly worried to have the sealed cover of the containeropenable without disengaging the wrist strap from the limb of the user,avoided on purpose to inside face the cover, not realizing that such aninside facing could strongly enhance the closure and sealing of thecover itself due to abutment of the cover against the limb.

The document U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,616 discloses a container in the formof a rigid and resilient box, connectable to a housing or holder, inturn fastened to a watch wrist strap or belt. The system could operaterather well, however has two two main drawbacks. First, the rigid box,suited for containing articles, is provided with a cover of verydoubtful sealing power, as for underwater uses the inventor relieschiefly on the presence of an air bubble into the box and it is possibleto guess how little can help this air bubble in case of deep immersionor of upsettings due to uncontrolled movements. Second, the box isfastened to the housing just along a side through forced fitting meansnot able to ensure a safe fastening in case of violent moevementsspecially due to sport practice, so tat there is a risk of remotion ofthe box from the holder.

In addition to the above mentioned drawbacks, there is also the factthat the belt is intended for fastening the holder against a limb of theuser but:

a) does not cooperate to fasten the rigid and more or less watertightcontainer to the holder itself, as such a belt is just inserted in slotslocated near the bottom of the holder, so that the only operationpermitted to the belt is to fasten the bottom of the holder against thelimb of the user;

b) does not give any improvement to the closure and sealing of thecontainer because does not cooperate in maintaining closed the poorlywatertight cover which is exposed to any accidental stress tending toopen it.

The above mentioned objects are met by a container according to theinvention consisting of a rigid box inserted in a case or holderintegral with a wrist strap, characterized in that the holder is asresilient as the wrist strap and substantially completely surrounds thebox itself and is provided with an opening for the forced inlet of thebox in the case or holder and the rigid box is comprised of twoportions, partially each other fitted and tightly pressed by theresilient holder, surrounding the rigid box itself, provided with atleast a sealing gasket interposed in the fitting area between the twoportions, so that the resilience of the holder contributes in sealinglyclose the rigid box.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an absolutelywatertight container whose seal is not affected by strains to anassociated wrist strap.

Another object is to provide a container fastened by a wrist strap butremovable therefrom.

Preferably, the holder integral with the wrist strap is comprised of anelastic or resilient shell which along a first side thereof appears as athickened peripheral frame and along an opposed second side appears as aframe surrounding an opening closed by a substantially rectangular flaphinged along a side to the frame itself and countable along an opposedside to the frame by means of holes receiving corresponding pins of theframe.

Particularly, the first side of the shell is the external one and thesecond side of the shell is the internal one.

In a second alternative, the pins could be on the side of the flap andthe holes on the side of the frame.

In a third alternative, instead of pins and corresponding holes, couldbe used snap fasteners.

In a fourth alternative, could be used a fabric strip on a side and aVelcrum^(R) on an opposite side, each other engaged.

In a fifth alternative, could be used a ridge on a side and a slot on anopposite side, each other engaged.

In a sixth alternative, could be used a zip fastener.

Also preferably, the rigid closure or box, having substantiallyelliptical cross-section, is transversally divided in two portions ofsubstantially equal length, being a first portion thereof provided withan area having externally thin walls and axially extending, to beinserted in an enlarged opening of the second portion formed throughinside reduction of the walls thereof, suited to house the thin wallarea of the first portion, housing on the bottom a first resilientsealing gasket engageable with the basis of the first portion.

More preferably, the thin wall area of the first portion houses, at theborder with the thick walls, a second resilient sealing gasketengageable with one of the basis faces of the second portion.

Alternatively, the thin wall area of the first portion is provided onthe lateral external lateral wall, with two parallel slots suited tohouse two paired gaskets. Particularly, the gaskets housed in the twoportions of the rigid box are two rubber O-ring gaskets.

In addition, an internally reduced wall area of the second portion isprovided with at least a protruding ridge suited to be engaged in acorresponding slot of the externally reduced wall of the first portion.

Preferably, the protruding ridges of the second portion and the slots ofthe first portion are two in number arranged on opposed walls.

Alternatively, the two portions forming the rigid box are quite eachother different in size, being a portion of greater length and the otherportion of lesser length.

In addition, the rigid box is provided with a peripheral slot suited tohouse a rubber gasket operating as a further closing elastic means.

Preferably, the gasket is an O-ring gasket having length of the internalperimeter a little less than the external perimeter of the box.

In addition, the O-ring gasket is provided with two lateral stiffeningmeans insertable in areas of the peripheral slot, adjacent to thejoining area of the two portions of the rigid box and reinforced throughthickening, in order to prevent flexural strains in such an area.

Preferably, the stiffening means are two small metal tubes obtained bywinding a laminate sheet about the corresponding areas of the gasket.

Alternatively, the gasket, preferably an O-ring, surrounding the rigidbox, can be replaced by a flexible, though inextendible, member providedwith a buckle comprising a lever and a coupling.

According to a different and alternative embodiment, the box, instead toconsists of two each other axially insertable portions, is formed by twoeach other hinged portions, similar to a snuff-box, provided withreciprocal coupling means, ensuring a safe closure of the box, and atleast a gasket for the seal between the two portions of the box.

Preferably, the sealing gaskets between the two portions of the box aretwo in number.

Particularly, the reciprocal coupling means of the box are two hooktangs overriding an edge of a half of the rigid box.

In addition, the reciprocal coupling means of the box are supplementedby a flap completely surrounding a half of the box and overriding anedge thereof.

The features of the invention will be particularly and precisely definedin the appended claims forming the conclusive portion of the presentdescription. However, other features and advantages thereof will resultselfevident from the following detailed description of some embodiments,given in an examplifying and not limiting way, provided with theenclosed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a complete top view of a container according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view taken along the line 2—2 of FIG. 1, withthe closing flap of the external holder held open;

FIG. 3 is the same view of FIG. 2 with closed flap;

FIG. 4 is a partial view in cross-section of the external holderparticularly emphasizing the closing flap;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view, taken along the line 5—5 of FIG. 3, withthe flap held closed;

FIG. 6 is an external view of a first embodiment of a rigid and hermeticbox according to the present invention,

FIG. 7 is a cross-section view taken along the line 7—7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section view taken along the line 8—8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a cross-section view taken along the line 9—9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a detail indicated by the letter X infigures;

FIG. 11 is an exploded view partially in cross-section, of the samerigid and hermetic box;

FIG. 12 is an external front view of a second embodiment of a rigid andhermetic box according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a lateral view of the rigid and hermetic box depicted in FIG.12;

FIG. 14 is an end view of the same rigid and hermetic box depicted inFIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal cross-section view of the same rigid andhermetic box of FIG. 12 in the closed state;

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal cross-section view of the same rigid andhermetic box of FIG. 12 in the open state;

FIG. 17 is a partial enlarged view of detail of FIG. 15 showing theinsertion of a male portion of the rigid box in a corresponding femaleportion thereof in the closed state;

FIG. 18 is a partial enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 16 showing aseparation of the insertable male portion of the rigid box into acorresponding female portion thereof in the open state;

FIG. 19 is a partial external view of the particular male coupling ofthe rigid box of FIG. 12;

FIG. 20 is an external front view of a third embodiment of a rigid andhermetic box according to the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a lateral view of the rigid and hermetic box depicted in FIG.20;

FIG. 22 is a longitudinal cross-section of the same rigid hermetic boxof FIG. 20 in closed state;

FIG. 23 is a longitudinal cross-section of the same rigid hermetic boxof FIG. 20 in open state;

FIG. 24 is a partial enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 22 showing theinsertion of a male portion of the rigid box in a corresponding femaleportion in the closed state;

FIG. 25 is a partial enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 23 showing theposition prior to insertion of a male portion of the rigid box into acorresponding female portion in the open state;

FIG. 26 is a partial external view of the particular male coupling ofthe rigid box of FIG. 20;

FIG. 27 is a schematic front view of a resilient member, similar to theO-ring gasket 74 closing the rigid box of the first embodiment of theinvention to be applied to the rigid boxes of the second and thirdembodiment, mainly depicted in the respective FIGS. 12 and 20;

FIG. 28 is a cross-section view taken along the line 28—28 of FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a schematic front view of an alternative closing memberconsisting of a flexible, though substantially inextendible wire,provided with a buckle comprising a lever and a coupling;

FIG. 30 is a cross-section view taken along the line 30—30 of FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is an enlarged view of the closing buckle of the member of FIG.29 depicted in closed state;

FIG. 32 is an enlarged view of the closing buckle of the member of FIG.29 depicted in open state;

FIG. 33 is a lateral enlarged view of the closing buckle of the memberof FIG. 29 depicted in open state;

FIG. 34 depicts an open top view of a fourth embodiment of a rigidhermetic box according to the invention consisting of two longitudinallyseparated half boxes connected along a longer side by hinges andprovided on the opposed side of coupling closure means;

FIG. 35 depicts an open bottom view of the same fourth embodiment ofrigid hermetic box according to the invention;

FIG. 36 depicts a closed top view of the same fourth embodiment of rigidhermetic box according to the invention;

FIG. 37 depicts a closed bottom view of the same fourth embodiment ofrigid hermetic box according to the invention;

FIG. 38 depicts a closed lateral view, on the hinge side, of theembodiment of rigid hermetic box of FIG. 36;

FIG. 39 depicts a closed lateral view, on the coupling means side, ofthe embodiment of rigid hermetic box of FIG. 36;

FIG. 40 is an enlarged cross-section view or the closed box of FIGS. 36and 37 taken along the line 40—40 of FIG. 37;

FIG. 41 is an enlarged cross-section view of the closed box of FIGS. 36and 37 taken along the line 41—41 of FIG. 37;

FIG. 42 is an enlarged cross-section view of the open box of FIGS. 34and 35 taken along the line 42—42 of FIG. 34;

FIG. 43 is an enlarged cross-section view of the open box of FIGS. 34and 35 taken along the line 43—43 of FIG. 34;

FIG. 44 is a closed top views of a rigid hermetic box according to afifth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 45 is a closed end view of the same box according to the fifthembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 46 is a closed bottom vie of the box according to the fifthembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 47 is a closed view, along the hinge side, of the box according tothe fifth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 48 is a closed view, along the closure coupling means side, of thebox according to the fifth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 49 is view, along the same side of FIG. 48, showing a closure flapwhich is disengaged to begin the opening;

FIG. 50 is an open top view of a rigid hermetic box according to thefifth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 51 is an open bottom view of the same rigid hermetic box accordingto the fifth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 52 is an enlarged cross-section view of the closed box according tothe fifth embodiment of the invention taken along the line 52—52 of FIG.44;

FIG. 53 is an enlarged cross-section view of the closed box according tothe fifth embodiment of the invention taken along the line 53—53 of FIG.44;

FIG. 54 is an enlarged cross-section view of the open box according tothe fifth embodiment of the invention taken along the line 54—54; ofFIG. 50; and

FIG. 55 is an enlarged cross-section view of the open box according tothe fifth embodiment of the invention taken along the line 55—55 of FIG.50.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, it is seen that a container 10 according tothe present invention consists of a wrist strap 12, connected to ahollow case or holder 14, and comprising a left strap portion 16,provided with a buckle 18 and bridges 20 and 22, and a right strapportion 24 provided with a hole line 26 suited for engaging the buckle18 present at the end of the left strap portion 16 and suited forslipping into the already mentioned bridges 20 and 22.

The hollow holder 14 comprises an external covering portion 28 endingwith an internal flap 30, defining the recess of the holder 14 itselfsuited to hold inside a rigid watertight box 32, and provided with holes34, engageable by pins or similar protrusions 36 coming out from an edge38 of the covering portion 28 faced against the external end of the flap30. As particularly visible in FIG. 4, the external covering portion 28comprises two head areas 40 connected by a side wall 42 to which isfastened the flap 30 provided with the fastening holes 34. The headareas 40 cooperate with side walls, such as the wall 42 shown in FIG. 4,to form the external covering portion 28 housing in its recess the rigidwatertight box 32.

As particularly visible in FIG. 5, the rigid watertight box 32 is closedon all its faces by the external covering portion 28 contributing toprevent any accidental opening.

Considering in the whole the FIGS. 1 to 5, it is seen that the rigidwatertight box 32 can be easily inserted in the recess of the coveringportion 28 when the flap 30 is pushed aside, leaving a free entry to therecess itself. Once the box 32 has been housed, it is sufficient toclose the flap 30 engaging the holes 34 in the pins or protrusions 36 ofthe edge 38 for obtaining a safe fastening of the box 32 to the strap12. An clamping of the strap 12 to a limb further contributes to fastenthe box to the strap because the pressures due to the clamping of thestrap 12 push the box 32 against the covering portion 28, relieving, atleast partially, the flap 30 of the duty of fastening the box 32.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 to 11, it is completely understood how therigid watertight box 32 is made. This box 32 is comprised of two hollowshells 50 and 52, of which a first shell 50 depicted, upside depicted,is provided with a sleeve extension 54, having an external wallreduction, suited to be inserted into a corresponding seat 56 housed inthe second shell 52, having an internal wall reduction. Of course, thesleeve extension 54 slips with some precision into the seat 56 andfurther, for ensuring a forced holding of the sleeve 54 in the seat 56,the internal wall of the seat 56 having a protruding ridge 58 engaged ina corresponding slot 60 present in the lateral wall of the sleeve 54itself. At the border of the sleeve 54 with the external wall of theshell 50 is housed a first O-ring gasket 62 remaining there confinedwhen the box 32 is closed, providing a first hermetic seal area. A slot64 at the basis of the seat 56 houses a second O-ring gasket 66, alsothere confined, providing a second hermetic seal area.

It is easily understood that, as all the stresses interesting the rigidwatertight box 32 are directed in a way substantially perpendicular withrespect to the longitudinal axis 70 thereof, do not substantially existforces able to remorse the sleeve 54 from the seat 56, as the protrudingridges 58 on opposite walls of the sleeve 54 of the shell 50 prevent aseparation of the shells, unless a pressure is applied to the shell 50to remove the slots 60 from the ridges 58 of the shell 52 and are pulledon purpose the two shells 50 and 52, by reciprocal remotion, to open thebox 32.

In addition, it is possible to add a safety clamping means, contributingto each other join the shells 50 and 52, in the form of a peripheralslot 72 suited to house a resilient member acting by pulling, as forexample all O-ring gasket 74 which, having the length of the internalperimeter a little shorter of the external perimeter of the slot 72,further contibutes to close the box 32.

The use and the operation of the watertight container according to thepresent invention is of simple explanation.

When some article is to be inserted in the rigid and watertight box 32,it is removed from the recess of the holder 14, by simply opening theflap 30 through disengagement of its holes 34 from the protrusions 36 ofthe edge 38 and forcefully extracting the box 32 in order to overcomethe constraints imposed by the holder 14, which is of resilient material(for example an elastomer). Once the box 32 has been extracted from therecess of the holder 14, it can be opened by reciprocally removing thetwo shells 50 and 52. In the open box are inserted the articles to beprotected and then it is reclosed by simply joining the two shells 50and 52 till the ridges 58 come into the slots 60, determining thedefinite snap—closure of the box 32 itself. The closure of the box 32can be further ensured by inserting an elastic band, in the form of anO-ring gasket 74, in the peripheral slot 72 of the box 32 itself. Thepresently closed box 32 is reinserted in the recess of the case 14,connecting the box 32 to the strap 12 and thus obtaining the wholecomplete container 10 ready to be fastened to a body limb or member. Ofcourse, for extracting something from the box 32 born by the strap 12,it is proceeded through an operation logically reversed with respect tothe one here above disclosed.

Reference is made to the FIGS. 12 to 55 relating to different variationsin the embodiment of the rigid and watertight box indicated as a wholeand in its components, where applicable, by the same above givennumerals, preceded by the respective numerals 1, 2, 3, etc. . .

A first variation of box 132 is depicted in the FIGS. 12; to 19. Thisrigid watertight box 132 is comprised of two hollow shells 150 and 152of which a first shell 150, downward depicted, is provided with a sleeveextension 154, having an external wall reduction, suited to be insertedin a corresponding seat 156 located in the second shell 152, having aninternal wall reduction. Of course, the sleeve extension 154 slips withsome precision into the seat 156 and further, to ensure a forcedrestraint of the sleeve 154 in the seat 156, the internal wall of theseat 156 is provided with one or more protruding ridges 158 engaged inone or more corresponding slots 160 in the side walls of the sleeve 154itself. A slot 164 at the basis of the seat 156 houses an O-ring gasket166, there restricted, providing a hermetic seal area. This box 132,differently from the box 32 depicted in FIGS. 6 to 11, has about theperipheral slot 172, corresponding to the slot 72 of the box 32, somethickened areas 180, 182 suited to house specific stiffening means of anelastic band, or similar string, to be slipped in the peripheral slot172, as it will be explained referring to the FIGS. 27 to 33. It is toremark that the two shells 150 and 152 have at their poles depressions184 and 186, respectively, as deep as the peripheral slot 172, havingthe selfevident purpose of helping the remotion of an elastic band orgasket possibly located in the slot 172.

Reference is made to the FIGS. 20 to 26 depicting a third embodiment ofrigid and hermetic box according to the invention. This third embodimentof rigid and hermetic box is very similar to the second embodiment fromwhich differs just because, instead to have in the shell 152 only a slot164 suited to house an O-ring gasket 166 at the basis of the seat 156,has two parallel slots 168 and 170 on the sleeve 154 of the shell 150and, on the same sleeve 154, one or more protruding ridges 158 a engagedin one or more slots 160 a in the seat 156 o the shell 152. Of course,the two parallel slots 168 and 170 house two O-ring gaskets (not shown).Also the third embodiment of FIGS. 20 to 26 is provided with the samethickened areas 180 and 182 appearing in the second embodiment andhaving the same purpose. All the other components of the thirdembodiment of the invention are indicated by the same numerals of thecomponents of the second embodiment because they are structurally andoperatively identical or similar.

In the FIGS. 27 and 28 is depicted a string 174 in the form of anelastic gasket, as an O-ring, provided with two small stiffening tubes176 so arranged to be inserted in the slot 172 of the shells 150 and 152just between the thickened areas 180 and 182, to provide a stiffening ofthe junction point of the two shells 150 and 152 to prevent anyaccidental separation owing to flexion between said two shells.Preferably, the two stiffening tubes 176 are applied on an O-ring gasketby winding two cylinder shaped laminations. These laminations can be ofany rigid material deformable through winding, such as plastic ormetallic sheets. Metal alloys particularly preferred for this purposeare stainless steels of common use in the industry.

An alternative string is depicted in the FIGS. 29 to 33. This stringconsists of a simple flexible, though inextendible wire or braid 190which can be of plastic material, but is preferrred in a metallic alloy,such as stainless steel, for selfevident unalterability reasons.Analogously to the elastic string 174, also the wire or braid 190 isprovided with two stiffeninig tubes 191 made in the same way and of thesame material of the stiffening tubes 176 of the string 174. Forclamping the string 190, which by nature is inextendible, is used aclamping buckle 192 similar to some buckles used for clamping metal loopwatch straps. This clamping buckle 192 is shown completely closed in theFIG. 31 and completely open in the FIGS. 32 and 33, where is depicted ina top and a side view, respectively. The buckle 192 is connected to thestring 190 by means of two crimped areas 195 and 196 and consits ofthree joined members 192 a, 192 b and 192 c each other connected byhinges 193 and 194, to allow unclamping and clamping of the, buckle 192,and the member 192 b is provided with a finger 198 for allowing the lockof the buckle 192, once clamped, as depicted in FIG. 31.

Reference is made to FIGS. 34 to 43 concerning a fourth embodiment ofthe invention comprising a rigid watertight box 232 formed by two halfboxes 250 and 252, connected by two hinges 254, to form a box similar toa snuff-box. The half box 250 is provided with two resilient hooks 256,engageable in corresponding seats 258 in the half box 252, for providingthe closure of the box 232 itself.

The half box 252 is provided with a sleeve 260 connected by asemicylindric slot 262 to the box body. Of course, this slot 262 issuited to house a seal gasket which is pressed by an external plane 264of the half box 250, which box is also provided with an internal plane266 delimitating a slot 268 suited to house a seal gasket pressed by thetop area of the sleeve 260. It is understood that such a system ofdouble gaskets, housed in respective slots 262 and 268, allows anabsolutely hermetic seal of the box 232, once it has been closed.

Reference is made to the FIGS. 44 to 55 concerning a fifth embodiment ofthe invention comprising a rigid and watertight 332 formed by two halfboxes 350 and 352, connected by two hinges 354, to form a box similar toa snuff-box. The half box 350 is provided with two resilient hooks 356,engageable in corresponding seats 358 in the half box 352, for providingto the closure of the box 332 itself.

The half box 352 is provided with a sleeve 360 connected by means of ahalfcylindric slot 362 to the box body. Of course, this slot 362 issuited to house a seal gasket which is pressed by an external plane 364of the half box 350, which half box is also provided with an internalplane 366 delimitating a slot 368 suited to house a seal gasket pressedby the top of the sleeve 360. It is meant that such a system of doublegaskets, housed in the respective slots 362 and 368, allows anabsolutely hermetic seal of the box 332, once it is closed.

This fifth embodiment of rigid watertight box 332 is moreover providedwith a further safety closure system consisting of a flap 370surrounding, in closed position, the lower half box 352. This flap 370is connected by means a hinge 357 and is coupled to the half box 352 bymeans of a hook 372 engaging an external edge 374 of the half box 352.In order not to go out of size from the lower half box 352, the flap 370is housed in a lowered area 380 in the external wall of the half box 352itself.

What has been hereabove described and depicted are just some embodimentsof the present invention not to be meant in limiting way. Indeed thoseskilled in the art can devise, from the reading to the hereabovedisclosed description, logically equivalent variations and changementsto be held covered by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A watertight container, fastenable to a body part, comprising a rigid watertight box (32, 132) removably positioned in a resilient case or resilient holder, said holder having an (14) integral resilient wrist strap (12), said holder (14) being as resilient as the wrist strap (12) and being provided with an opening for a forced inlet of the box (32, 132) into the resilient case or said resilient holder (14), said resilient holder engagingly conforming to the exterior of said rigid box to retain said box in said holder, and said rigid box (32, 132) being comprised of two telescoping portions rectangular in shape (50, 150, 52, 152), each partially fitted with each other and defining a fitting area between said two portions and tightly pressed by the resilient holder (14), said rigid box being provided with at least a sealing gasket (62) interposed in the fitting area and enclosed between the two portions (50, 150, 52, 152), so that the resilience of the resilient holder (14) contributes in sealingly closing the rigid box (32, 132) and snapping coupling means (58, 158, 158 a, 60, 160), for engaging the two portions (50, 150, 52, 152) of the rigid box (32, 132), said gasket being external of said snapping coupling means.
 2. A watertight container, fastenable to a body part, comprising a rigid watertight box (32) removably positioned in a resilient case or resilient holder, said holder having an (14) integral resilient wrist strap (12), said holder (14) being as resilient as the wrist strap (12) and being provided with an opening for a forced inlet of the box (32, 132) into the case or holder (14), said resilient holder engagingly conforming to the exterior of said rigid box to retain said box in said holder, said rigid box (32) being comprised of two rectangular shaped telescoping portions (50, 52), each partially fitted with each other and defining a fitting area between said two portions and tightly pressed by the resilient holder (14), said rigid box being, provided with a first sealing gasket (52) and a second sealing gasket (66), said first sealing gasket (62) being interposed in the fitting area and enclosed between the two portions (50, 52), so that the resilience of the holder (14) contributes in sealingly closing the rigid box (32), and snapping coupling means (58, 60) for engaging the two portions (50, 52) of the rigid box (32), said snapping coupling means being internally of said two portions when said two portions are engaged, and said first gasket (62) being external of said snapping coupling means, the container, rigid box (32), being transversely divided into said two portions (50, 52), the first portion (50) of said two portions being provided with an area (54) having externally reduced walls, axially extending, and housing at a border with thicker walls, said first sealing gasket (62) being engaged by a basis face of the second portion (52) of said two portions and the second portion (52) being provided with an enlarged seat (56), provided through inside reduction of the walls thereof for housing a reduced wall area (54) of the first portion (50) without any contraction of the enlarged seat (56) with respect to the wall area (54), housing on a bottom the said second elastic sealing gasket (66) within said fitting area engaged with the basis of the first portion (50).
 3. The watertight container, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the gaskets (62, 66) are rubber O-ring gaskets.
 4. The watertight container, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the snap coupling means for providing a forced holding of the internally reduced wall area (54) of the second portion (52) includes at least a protruding ridge (58) for providing a forced holding of the wall area (54) in the enlarged seat (56) engaging a corresponding slot (60) of the wall area (54) having a rigid externally reduced walls of the first portion (50) without any contraction of the enlarged seat with respect to the wall area (54).
 5. The watertight container, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the ridges (58) protruding from the second portion (52) and the slots (60) of the first portion (50) are two in number and arranged on opposed sides and cooperate with each other without distorting the outer wall of said first portion to prevent removal of the reduced wall area (54) from the seat (56).
 6. The watertight container, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two portions (50,52) are each of a quite different size, one of said portions being of greater length than the other of said portions.
 7. The watertight container, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rigid box (32) is provided with a peripheral groove or slot (72) for housing an elastic safety clamping means, said clamping means including an O-ring gasket having an internal perimeter shorter than an external perimeter of said slot (72).
 8. The watertight container, as claimed in claim 2, including an elastic clamping means comprising an O-ring gasket (74) having an internal perimeter a little less than an external perimeter of a shell (32).
 9. The watertight container, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the case (14), comprises fastening means for fastening the wrist strap (12) to the rigid box (32), and includes an elastic shell frame having a first side appearing as a peripheral thickened frame portion and a second side appearing as a frame portion around an opening closed by a substantially rectangular flap (30), hinged at a long side along the frame itself and coupled, at the opposed long side, to the frame by means of holes (34) for receiving corresponding pins (36) inserted into the frame and the strap (12) and the resilient holder (16) and the rectangular flap (30) together with a covering portion (28) for the box forms a continuous member.
 10. The container, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first side of the elastic is an external side and the second side of the elastic shell is an internal side.
 11. The container, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first side of the elastic shell is an internal side and the second side of the elastic shell is an external one and said strap (12) cooperates with said rectangular flap (30) to press said rigid box (32) against said covering portion (28) to provide fastening of said rigid box to said strap (12).
 12. The container, as claimed in claim 2, including fastening means for fastening the wrist straps to said rigid box and including a flap on a side of the frame provided with holes (34) and insertable pins (36) insertable into said flap (30) and into said holes (34), said flap cooperating with said pins (36) to exert pressure of the box against a covering portion (28).
 13. The container, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fastening means is a snap fastener.
 14. The container, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fastening means includes for closure of the flap (30) a first fabric strip provided, on a side and a second fabric strip cooperating with said first fabric strip cooperating with said first fabric strip provided on an opposed side which are engageable with each other as loop and hook fasteners.
 15. The watertight container, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fastening means includes a ridge on one side of the flap (30) for closure of the flap (30) and a related slot on an opposed side of the flap.
 16. The container, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fastening means is a zip fastener. 